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Request for proposals stage closed for Pan American Aquatics Centre, Field House and Canadian Sport Institute Ontario project

TORONTO, Jan. 31, 2012 /CNW/ - Infrastructure Ontario today announced
that the request for proposals stage has closed for short-listed
building teams to submit bids to design, build and finance a
high-performance aquatics and athletics facility that will house the
Pan American Aquatics Centre (PAAC), Field House and the Canadian Sport
Institute Ontario (CSIO).

The multipurpose facility will be constructed on the University of
Toronto Scarborough campus for the Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan American
Games. Following the Games, it will be a venue for high-performance and
university sports and will provide much-needed community recreation
space. The centre will be jointly owned by the City of Toronto and the
University of Toronto.

The Aquatics Centre project will proceed under Infrastructure Ontario's
alternative financing and procurement model, which transfers the risks
associated with designing, constructing and financing the facilities to
the private sector.

A request for qualifications issued in December 2010 short-listed three
teams with the design and construction capability, experience and
financial capacity to undertake a project of this size and complexity.

Over the next several months, Infrastructure Ontario, TO2015, the City
of Toronto and the University of Toronto will evaluate the bidders'
proposals based on criteria set out in the RFP. The successful project
team will be selected and announced in summer 2012. Construction is
expected to begin shortly thereafter and be completed in 2014. The
contract value will be announced publicly following financial close.

Infrastructure Ontario and TO2015 are working with municipalities in the
Greater Golden Horseshoe, universities and provincial agencies to
procure and deliver the Athletes' Village and Games venueson time and on budget.

Infrastructure Ontario is a Crown corporation dedicated to delivering
some of the province's larger and more complex infrastructure renewal
projects, on time and on budget; managing one of the largest real
estate portfolios in Canada and providing real estate services, such as
asset management, and property and land management; and providing the
public sector and not-for-profit organizations with long-term financing
to renew public infrastructure.

The Pan/Parapan American Games are one of the world's largest
international multi-sport events, held every four years for athletes of
the 41 member nations of the Pan American Sport Organization (PASO).
The Games are comprised of all Olympic Summer Games sports, as well as
traditional Pan American sports. The Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan American
Games will draw up to 10,000 athletes and officials to municipalities
across the Greater Golden Horseshoe area. The Toronto 2015 Pan American
Games will take place July 10-26 and the Parapan American Games August
7-14.

"Today's announcement brings us one step closer to breaking ground on
the Pan American Aquatics Centre. This project will not only serve as a
focal point for competition during the Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan
American Games, it will provide long-lasting benefits to the community
as a hub for local activities, university and high-performance sport
once the Games are over."

Honourable Charles Sousa, Minister responsible for the Pan/Parapan
American Games

"The Pan American Aquatics Centre is part of the largest investment in
sport and recreation facilities in Ontario's history. The project will
create hundreds of jobs and provide lasting benefits to Ontario's
athletes, the university and the local community."

Backgrounder

STATUS OF MAJOR VENUES FORTHE TORONTO 2015 PAN/PARAPAN AMERICAN GAMES

Infrastructure Ontario has been working with TO2015 and other partners
to select companies to develop major infrastructure projects for the
Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games (Games). This process is
proceeding well and all major venues will be under construction by the
end of 2012.

The Province of Ontario's investment in the Games will provide new and
redeveloped infrastructure that will benefit the Greater Toronto Area
and enhance sporting facilities at post-secondary schools and in
communities across southern Ontario. During the Games, competitive
athletes will have world-class facilities in which to train, compete
and rest. The status of the major venues is as follows:

Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games Athletes' Village

Construction of the Athletes' Village in time for the 2015 Pan/Parapan
American Games is accelerating development in the West Don Lands by
five to ten years and creating much-needed public infrastructure as
well as new market and affordable housing in Toronto.

The project will enhance the broader waterfront community through the
development of a new, sustainable, mixed-use neighbourhood with a new
YMCA and George Brown College's first student residence. The new
development will also provide 10,000 athletes, coaches and team
officials with a safe and supportive environment during the 2015
Pan/Parapan American Games.

Status: Under construction as of January 2012. The Province has entered
into an agreement with Dundee Kilmer Developments to design, build and
finance the Athletes' Village project.

Pan American Aquatics Centre (PAAC), Field House and Canadian Sport
Institute Ontario (CSIO)

This high-performance aquatics and athletics facility will be
constructed on the University of Toronto Scarborough Campus and will
include:

an Aquatics Centre featuring two 10-lane, 52-metre pools (including
bulkheads) and a 5-metre deep diving tank with 5-metre, 7.5-metre and
10-metre platforms, with a Games-time seating capacity of approximately
6,000;

a Field House featuring flexible gymnasium space for training and
competition with a Games-time seating capacity of approximately 2,000,
as well as an indoor recreational track and fitness area including
cardio and weightlifting facilities;

a Canadian Sport Institute Ontario complex that will provide sport
performance services and coaching and training facilities.

Students, high-performance athletes, sporting groups and local residents
will all have access to the multipurpose facility after the Games.

Status: A preferred bidder will be selected in spring 2012. Construction
will begin in summer 2012.

Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan American Stadia and Velodrome

This project involves construction of a new Ivor Wynne Stadium in
Hamilton, construction of a velodrome, as well as a 5,000 fixed-seat
stadium at York University in Toronto.

Ivor Wynne Stadium is one of the four sites that have been selected for
soccer competitions; it will be used for the Games' preliminary and
medal round match play. After the Games, Ivor Wynne Stadium will
continue to be home to the Hamilton Tiger Cats and serve as a venue for
community soccer games and training, concerts and events.

The velodrome will host the track cycling competition during the Games.
It will be designed to meet all of the technical requirements of the
Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), including a 250-metre indoor
wooden track and fixed and temporary seating to accommodate 2,250.

York University will gain much-needed training and competition
facilities for high-performance athletes in track and field, rugby and
soccer. Students, faculty and local residents will have access to the
facility for recreational use following the Games.

Status: A request for proposals was issued in September 2011.
Construction will begin in late summer/fall 2012.

Pan American Field Hockey Centre, Markham Pool and Field House, and Etobicoke Olympium

The project includes:

Construction of a new Markham Pool and Field House facility that will
host the water polo and badminton competitions for the Games.

Renovations and improvements to the existing Etobicoke Olympium
facility, which will be the training site for aquatic disciplines
including swimming, water polo, diving and synchronized swimming.
Following the Games, local residents will have access to much improved
facilities.

Construction of a new two-field Pan American Field Hockey Centre located
on University of Toronto's St. George campus. This will be Ontario's
first dedicated international field hockey venue and will host all
levels of the game, from international to local.

Status: A request for proposals will be issued in February 2012.
Construction will begin in summer 2012.